Staff Spotlight: Scott Swenson


Nomen Global is excited to have new employees in the recruiting office! Scott Swenson, our International Area Recruiting Coordinator, is the newest member of our team. Scott works with students from Central America, South America, and Portuguese-speaking countries. After living in Chile for 2 years and traveling to Guadalajara,  Scott has the Spanish-speaking skills necessary to bring more students to Nomen Global.

Scott is from Spanish Fork, Utah, and has been working with us for a week. He has already brought fresh, new ideas to the table in our efforts to make Nomen Global even bigger and better. Scott loves Nomen Global so far because of the melding of so many languages, cultures, and backgrounds. He excels when working with a team, a skill that Nomen Global loves!

Scott aspires to travel the world one day! He also hopes to run multiple marathons and an ultra marathon. In addition to learning about other people and cultures, Scott enjoys playing the guitar and learning music in his free time. His favorite quote is by Aristotle: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit."

Meet Scott and other great employees like him at Nomen Global!

Mark Zuckerberg Forum

Last Friday, Nomen Global students joined over 10,000 other people in the Marriott Center at BYU to listen to the founder and CEO of the global social networking site, Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg joined Utah's Senator Hatch to discuss technology, education, entrepreneurship, and passion.


Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg explained what he did to create Facebook and what people need to be successful. As a sophomore at Harvard, Zuckerberg created Facebook for only Harvard students. When other colleges started requesting the social networking site, Facebook exploded! Facebook is now a worldwide sensation with over 600 million users!


Passion and Success
More important than Facebook's popularity, passion is one of the traits Zuckerberg says is critical for success. "You have to really love and believe in what you're doing. I think that's the most important thing.... Most people have something that they're super passionate about, and I'd encourage you guys to find that thing." Zuckerberg reminded us that creating Facebook was not easy, but his love for what he did pulled him through. "I think it's important if you're going to take on any big challenge that you just love and really have faith in what you're doing."


Nomen Global Students
Yunwoo: "It was awesome! He gave me inspiration. Big things start as just small things. Also, even though he is rich, he was dressed very casually. I think he's very humble."

Dane: "I was so impressed. Even though he is young like me, he is already rich. His speech really moved me. I  want to find passion for my dreams and what I am doing."

Nayoung: "It was great to see him speak frankly. I admire his passion that helped him create Facebook."

Eduardo: "I think Mark is genius and I love him." 


Upcoming Activities
Comedy Sportz
Join us on April 8th to see the most popular laugh-out-loud comedy troupe in Provo! Students at Nomen Global will have the chance to interact with the comedians on stage, creating a truly one-of-a-kind show!

Spring Picnic
Springtime in Utah  beckons Nomen Global students to take English outside for some fun in the mountains! On April 22nd, we will spend some time with nature on a picnic with food, games, and beautiful weather!

Nomen Global students are located in an epicenter of impressive opportunities. In addition to seeing famous people, like Mark Zuckerberg, we experience a host of other great things to do and people to meet. Find out more about Nomen Global and the activities we take part in on our website!

Reading Strategy: SQ3R

For some, reading is easy and pleasant. For others, reading is often very difficult. If you find reading to be a challenge, you are not alone. Reading can be an arduous task in both your native language and your second language. However, there are a few reading strategies that can help you understand the words you are reading. One popular strategy is the SQ3R method.


What is the SQ3R method?
The SQ3R method was developed by Francis Pleasant Robinson in 1946. He created the book, Effective Study, for college students, but this method to improve reading can be used by everyone. SQ3R stands for survey, question, read, recite, and review. This method can be used to help you improve overall reading comprehension.

How do I employ the SQ3R method?
The SQ3R method is actually quite simple. Follow these steps to help you understand what you are reading.

Survey.
Before you read, survey the assignment! Look at the title. What do you think the book or chapter will be about? Flip through the pages and look at the pictures or graphics. What do the pictures tell you about the plot and characters? What do the graphics tell you about the information presented in this chapter? Is there a short summary on the back of the book or at the end of the chapter? Here is a list of things you can survey, or check, before you read an assignment.

  • Title
  • Chapter titles
  • Chapter headings
  • Pictures
  • Charts, graphs, maps
  • Captions
  • Vocabulary words, bold or italicized words
  • Book or chapter summaries
  • Topic sentences
  • Introductory and concluding paragraphs
  • Questions or study guides given to you by your teacher.

Question.
After you have thoroughly surveyed the reading assignment, ask questions. Turn the items you surveyed into questions. For example, if you are assigned to read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, ask yourself, What is the relationship between the lion and the witch? or Where is this wardrobe? You could ask questions about the characters and the plot: Is the lion or the witch the protagonist? or What happens with the wardrobe?

After you ask yourself about the items you surveyed, ask yourself about the topics. What did my teacher say about this book already? What do I already know about this topic? For example, if you are assigned to read about plants and photosynthesis, ask yourself, What do I already know about plants? Have I heard about photosynthesis before?

Most students find it helpful to write their questions down. When you write your questions down, you can visit them again later.

Read.
As you read the assignment, be sure to look for the answers to your questions. Read not only the text, but study pictures, graphics, and captions. Reread passages if they are difficult and read only one section at a time.

Recite.
After you finish reading a section of your assignment, stop and recite. Recite the answers to your questions. Say the answers out loud or write them down. Underline or highlight key ideas or words. Remember that the more ways to recite what you read, the better you will understand. See it. Say it. Hear it. Write it.

Repeat the steps Question, Read, and Recite for each section of the text you are reading.

Review.
Reviewing what you read is one of the best ways to help you remember what you learned. Studies show that you are more likely to remember what you read when you review your questions, answers, and notes within 24 hours of the first time you read the assignment. After the first 24 hours, you should review your notes once every day until your test or assessment. Here are a few things you can do to help you review:
  • Make flashcards of key words
  • Identify the main ideas and points of the assignment
  • Write your own study guide using your questions
  • Orally recite the answers to your questions
  • Retell the story in your own words
  • Summarize the material in your own words
  • Create a table of contents highlighting the topics and subtopics
  • Develop mnemonic devices to help you remember important material
As you use the SQ3R method, you will make your study time more valuable. Have you used the SQ3R method? How did it work for you? Are there other reading strategies you enjoy?

The students at Nomen Global use the SQ3R method as well as other reading strategies in our Novels and Integrated Skills classes. Find out more about Nomen Global and its program at our website!

Student Spotlight: Tamara Harutyonova

Tamara Harutyonova has been a student at Nomen Global since the middle of January. She is from Armenia. As a Level 5 student, she has enjoyed her experience here very well so far. She is here to improve her English so that she may study at BYU one day. Tamara loves the teachers at Nomen Global. She finds them very helpful. She considers her progress in English one of her greatest successes.

Tamara hopes to one day graduate from a university and to have a family of her own. She believes that if she wants to have success, she must never give up. The most important thing to Tamara is her family. In her free time, Tamara plays the piano, reads books, listens to music, and plays sports. 

To meet other great students like Tamara, visit us at Nomen Global!

At the End of Every Rainbow Lies A Pot of Gold

Rainbows are the rare but beautiful natural phenomenon that is created when sunlight reflects through water droplets left in the atmosphere. People throughout history have loved the magic of rainbows. Many countries believe that rainbows can bring good or bad luck—but one country tells a legend of treasure.

Have you heard the famous Irish legend? Fairies bury their treasure to keep it safe, but the end of the rainbow points to where the treasure lies. The treasure, a pot of gold, is guarded by cunning and crafty leprechauns.

Last week, Nomen Global students took their chances with the leprechauns to see if they could uncover buried treasure! We broke up into groups of 4 and embarked on a journey down Center Street. Our groups were given a set of clues—clues that would lead us to the treasure! Each clue led us to a different store on Center Street, and we had to talk to different people at the stores to figure out the next clue. This treasure hunt was a great way to practice speaking and listening! The groups raced to see who could find the treasure first. Take a look at the pictures from this St. Patrick's Day event:










Upcoming Activities
Mark Zuckerberg
Come with us to see the creator of facebook answer questions about his technological and entrepreneurial journey on this Friday at the Marriott Center at BYU. 
The event starts at 11 a.m., but be at the Marriott Center early because many people want good seats! 

Comedy Sportz
A few weeks after we listen to the inspiration of the movie, The Social Network, we will laugh and interact with one of the best improv comedy troupes in Utah! On April 8th, join us at Comedy Sportz!

We at Nomen Global love finding ways to use English and have fun! To learn more about the school, its students, and our programs, visit our website.

Informal Speech: School Slang

Try to think of your first experience in America. Were there songs you didn't understand? Were there words you couldn't find in the dictionary? Many students who come to America for the first time quickly learn about slang.

Slang words and expressions are an informal way to communicate in English. American culture is teeming with slang, but many English books and teachers don't focus on this important aspect of learning English. Normal dictionaries don't help students very much when it comes to slang expressions; that's why it is important to study slang to be ready for everyday conversation

Here are a few slang words that relate to school. If you think of any other school slang that you have heard, post a comment!

101

a beginning course
When the student sat down in the computer lab for the first time, his teacher had to give him Computers 101.

hit
something that is successful or popular
The presentation on Armenian food was a hit! All of the students asked for recipes.

to ace
to do very well on an assignment
"How did you do on the TOEFL?"
"I aced it! I'll definitely get into the university I want!"

airhead
someone who isn't very smart; a negative term
The class made fun of the airhead who sat in the back of the class. He always asked stupid questions.

to pull all-nighter
to stay up all night working on school assignments or projects
Emily came to class looking very tired. She pulled an all-nighter, but at least she finished her assignment.

to brush up on
to review material
Since John hadn't studied grammar in a few years, he had to brush up on his verb tenses before the test.

to chill
to relax or hang out
The students chill in the hallways or the lounge between classes.

to cut class

to skip class
"Where is Peter today?"
"I don't know. He's probably cutting class."

to ditch class
to skip class
Amber wanted to go shopping instead of go to class, so she ditched class for a day.

to drop out
to quit attending school before your graduation
Chris hated school and thought it was too difficult, so he dropped out.

to get into
to be very interested in something
"I didn't know grammar was your favorite subject!"
"I used to hate it, but this semester, I've gotten really into it!"

to hand in
to give an assignment to your teacher
Teacher: "Ok class, please hand in your homework from last night."

to hand out
to give an assignment to the students
"Did the teacher already hand out the homework?"
"Yes she did. You should ask her for a copy."

to hang in there
to endure something that is difficult for you
Even though James had a hard time learning English, he hung in there until he passed the TOEFL.

to hit the books
to study really hard
Ashley and Melissa hit the books after eating dinner to prepare for their test.

know-it-all

someone who knows a lot of information; a negative term
Nobody likes to debate with Joshua because he always tries to be a know-it-all.

to play hooky

to skip class
Three of the students in my novels class play hooky every week.

pop quiz
a surprise quiz
The teacher surprised the students with a pop quiz.

to show up
to attend class or an activity
Class will always begin at 9:00 a.m. even if all the students don't show up on time.

to sign up
to register, to sign your name to participate in an activity
Make sure to sign up for the skiing activity we have planned next month!

teacher's pet

someone who the teacher really likes; a negative term
Since Alex is the teacher's pet, he can get good grades without working hard.

to pass with flying colors
to do very successfully on an assignment
Sophie passed her grammar test with flying colors!

Nomen Global students learn slang like this in one of their favorite classes, Idioms and Informal Speech. Learn more about other classes at Nomen Global by visiting our website.

Student Spotlight: Hyeyoung Cho


Hyeyoung Cho is a Level 5 student from South Korea. Hyeyoung has been studying at Nomen Global for 2 weeks! She chose to study at Nomen Global because she knows that she will be prepared for a great university. Hyeyoung loves Nomen Global because she enjoys her grammar class and all of her teachers.

After Hyeyoung finishes studying at Nomen Global, she plans to pass the TOEFL test so that she can attend college. Hyeyoung considers acquiring dedicated study skills one of her greatest successes. She hopes these skills will prepare her for an Ivy League school to give her wider opportunities in life.

Traveling the world, talking with friends, and making food are among some of Hyeyoung's favorite hobbies. She hopes to accomplish many goals in her life, including being comfortable, having a happy family, feeling satisfied, having true friends, and having a good job and money. And besides food and water, Hyeyoung values her family, her health, her positive attitude, and her friends.

Meet other students like Hyeyoung at Nomen Global! Check back next week for another student spotlight!

Macbeth, Bowling, and Soccer

Macbeth

When Macbeth and his wife learn of a mysterious prophecy that Macbeth will be crowned King of Scotland, their greed and impatience lead them down a terrible path, a path that ends in tragedy.

Last week, Level 4 classes took on the challenge of presenting this tragic play to Nomen Global. After end-of-block assessments, Nomen Global students enjoyed watching on of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies.

Take a look at the a.m. class.





Here is the p.m. class!





Bowling and Soccer

On Friday, Nomen Global students spent time with each other at Fat Cats, a bowling alley and game center located near the school.



After a few games of bowling, the students teamed up to play an exciting game of soccer. Nomen Global enjoyed playing so much that we will have a soccer game every Friday this spring! Join us in the fun!





Upcoming Activities
Mark Zuckerberg
Come with us to see the creator of facebook answer questions about his technological and entrepreneurial journey on March 25th at the Marriott Center.

Comedy Sportz
After listening to the inspiration of the movie, The Social Network, come laugh and interact with one of the best improv comedy troupes in Utah!

Nomen Global students love learning and spending time together. If you want to learn more about Nomen Global or the programs we offer, visit our website!

Commonly Confused Words: Homonyms

The English language has many words that are spelled the same but pronounced differently. English also has many words that are spelled differently but pronounced the same. These words are called "homonyms."

Homonyms
The word "homonym" comes from the Greek words homo meaning "same" and nym meaning "name." Homonyms have the same name, but different meanings. However, "name" can mean spelling or pronunciation. There are two categories of homonyms, homophones and homographs.

Homophones
Homophones include words that have the same pronunciation. The Greek phone means "sound." Homophones may have the same spelling, but they don't have to. Here are some examples:

Turn right at this corner.
Write your name at the top of the page.

When I went camping, I slept on a cot.
When I went fishing, I caught a fish.

Homographs
Homographs include words that have the same spelling. The Greek graph means "writing." Homographs may have the same pronunciation, but they don't have to. Here are some examples:

I received a present for my birthday.
I am proud to present my new invention.

The girl is wearing a bow in her hair.
After his performance, the pianist will bow to the audience.

English is a rich language with many interesting words. Learn more about English and its words at Nomen Global.

Teacher Spotlight: Rick Thomas


Rick Thomas is from Mesa, Arizona. He has a bachelor’s degree in history and is currently working toward a Ph.D. is counseling psychology.

Rick has been teaching at Nomen Global for 2 years; however, he has been teaching English for 4 years! He spent one year in Japan and one year in Korea. He also has experience teaching and assisting teachers at BYU for 5 semesters in the History Department! Rick teaches College Preparation Grammar, Level 4 Integrated Skills, Intermediate Writing Workshop, Advanced Novels, Research and Debate, and Beginning Speaking/Listening.

Rick is a great teacher! He teaches with confidence and expression. He uses his voice, his body, and—most importantly—his imagination to teach English every day. Rick believes that students should participate actively and use their environment in the classes to effectively learn English. Rick works especially hard to ensure that each student has the opportunity to participate as much as possible.

Rick loves working with the students.  Nomen Global has a lot of students come through the door with different needs, different strengths, and different weaknesses.  Rick loves being able to help each student achieve and accomplish his or her goals. When students first arrive for orientation, Rick gets to interview a lot of students—and he has so much fun watching them change from the moment they first walk in the door to the time that they complete their studies at Nomen Global.  Seeing improvement is fun, and Rick has seen so much with his students here.

Rick loves yoga, meditation, physical exercise, and studying. He believes that true happiness comes from a healthy and well-exercised boy, soul, and mind. Rick intends to get a Ph.D. in counseling psychology and teach psychology at a university. Rick also plans to practice psychology in a setting where he has the opportunity to work with multi-cultural students.

Meet Rick and other great teachers at Nomen Global. Visit our website to learn more!

Sundance Adventure

Last Friday night Nomen Global students experienced the "Greatest Snow on Earth!" We took our chances (many of us for the first time!) on the slopes at Sundance Resort to test our skills in skiing and snowboarding.



After meeting together at Nomen Global, we arrived at Sundance in the afternoon to prepare for Night Skiing.


 We were fitted for boots, skis, and snowboardsand then we headed to the slopes.



Some of us were already quite skilled in the sport, but many more of us needed lots of practice! Take a look at some of the fun we had!






Upcoming Activities
Book Sale
Join Nomen Global on Tuesday and Wednesday for a school-wide book sale! We will be selling some classic English novels and gently-used grammar books. Every item costs under $2!

Bowling
We are excited to spend an evening taking part in a favorite American pastime! This Friday we will head over to our favorite bowling alley. Join us for an evening of fun and entertainment!

Nomen Global students enjoy all the activities happening this time of year! To learn more about Nomen Global and the activities we participate in, visit our website.

Answers to Pronunciation Practice

hugs /z/      kisses /əz/      flowers /z/      trees /z/      houses /əz/      yards /z/      
chairs /z/      desks /s/      
spoons /z/      forks /s/      pens /z/      pencils /z/      

teachers /z/      students /s/      letters /z/      
envelopes /s/      maps /s/      

kites /s/      
seats /s/      boxes /əz/      tents /s/      hands /z/      fingers /z/

Pronunciation Strategy: Plural Words

If you recall last week's post, we discussed the spelling of plural words. Pronunciation, as we know, has much to do with spelling; however, we also know that some words that are spelled with the same letters are pronounced differently. The plural -s is a great example of a letter that can be pronounced 2 different ways!

Before we begin talking about the plural -s, we should understand voiced and voiceless consonants. Say the word "hum" and hold out the last sound. "Hummm." Feel the base of your throat. You should feel a vibration in your throat! Now say the word "hiss" and hold out that last sound as well. "Hissssss." You should feel nothing! These sounds illustrate the difference between voiced and voiceless consonants: Voiced consonants cause a vibration to occur at the base of your throat. Voiceless consonants require no vibration.

Now let's look at the plural -s. In plural words, -s can be pronounced 2 different ways: /s/ and /z/. Say the /s/ sound and hold it out. "Essssss." It's voiceless. Now say the /z/ sound and hold it out. "Zzzzzz." This sound is voiced.

Here's the rule: When the plural -s is placed on a noun that ends with a voiceless consonant, the s sound will also be voiceless, /s/. When the plural -s is placed on a noun that ends with a voiced consonant, the s sound will also be voiced, /z/.

Say the word "dog." Is the final sound, /g/, voiceless or voiced? "Guh." It's voiced. When we place the plural -s on "dog," the final s sound will also be voiced, /z/! "Dogs" is pronounced /dagz/. Now say the word "cat." Is the final sound, /t/, voiceless or voiced? "T." It's voiceless. When we place the plural -s on "cat," the final s sound will also be voiceless, /s/.  "Cats" is pronounced /kæts/. 

Remember also that nouns that end with -s, -z, -sh, -ch, and -x do not simply take the plural -s ending but rather the -es ending. This ending is pronounced the same way no matter what the last sound in the noun is: /
əz/. 

Take a moment to test yourself. Would the following nouns be pronounced with a voiceless /s/, a voiced /z/, or /
əz/?

hug      kiss      flower      tree      house      yard      chair      desk      


spoon      fork      pen      pencil      
teacher      student      letter      

envelope      map      kite
      seat      box      tent      hand      finger

Check back on Monday for the answers! If you would like to know more about pronunciation and spelling, contact us at
Nomen Global!

Student Spotlight: Qin Gao

Qin Gao has been a student at Nomen Global for more than 6 months.  Qin is studying at Nomen Global to improve her English. She is currently taking TOEFL Grammar and Level 4 Integrated Skills. Qin loves Nomen Global because she thinks that the teacher's are nice and that she is learning quickly.

Qin is originally from China, but has been living in the United States for a number of years. She has lived in both Utah and New York. Qin has recently accomplished one of her dreams: She became a US citizen! She enjoys shopping in her free time. Qin appreciates living in the United States and practicing her English with people she meets at school and at work.

Meet Qin and other great students like her at Nomen Global. Visit our website to learn more!